The Atlanta Falcons dropped to 4-5 following Sunday’s 31-28 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. Arthur Smith appeared to honor the sanctity of sports superstitions after the game.
Smith showed up to Monday’s practice without the mustache he’s sported all season. Per Falcons reporter Terrin Waack, Smith decided to shave at 3:45 a.m. as a “turnover cleanse.”
Atlanta lost a fumble and an interception on consecutive offensive snaps in the third quarter of its Week 9 home loss.
#Falcons head coach Arthur Smith shaved his mustache after the loss to the #Vikings. Obviously, changes are in the air. @929TheGame pic.twitter.com/SdxV2CaiEB
— Mark Zinno (@MarkZinno) November 6, 2023
Falcons head coach Arthur Smith shaved his mustache at 3:45 a.m. Couldn’t sleep. Calling it a “turnover cleanse.”
— Terrin Waack (@TerrinWaack) November 6, 2023
Following a 7-10 season, Smith showed up to Atlanta’s training camp with a full mustache. He declared the new look “a lifestyle change” that’s “not for everybody.”
The 41-year-old is now going back to the drawing board after back-to-back losses.
Smith recently made a more significant chance when benching quarterback Desmond Ridder for Taylor Heinicke. In his first start of the season, Heinicke completed 21 of 38 passes for 268 yards, a touchdown, and a pick.
Smith confirmed Monday that Heinicke will remain Atlanta’s starter against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 10.
“Especially going into this week, we’ll go with Taylor this week and kind of re-assess going into the bye,” Smith said, per Tori McElhaney. “(Heinicke has) played the last six quarters and we’ve scored 48 points with him back there. Obviously we want more than that, but that’ll be the plan this week.”
While some may not have liked Smith’s mustache, others could be sad to see it go. But many fans remain agitated at the head coach after giving Tyler Allgeier more touches than star rookie Bijan Robinson on Sunday and continuing not to fully utilize young tight end Kyle Pitts.
The Falcons still remain in the thick of a wide-open NFC South race. Smith will hope his sacrifice to the football gods — during Movember of all times — will halt their losing streak.